Element for cooling the air of a motor vehicle

Abstract

Disclosed is an element for cooling the air in a motor vehicle, including a composite phase-change material (40) made of at least one first material which is a phase-change material (42) and one second material (44) of which the structure forms a support matrix for the phase-change material (42), the composite phase-change material (40) being covered with a heat-conducting protective layer (46).

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An air-conditioning device for a motor vehicle comprising:
 an air-conditioning loop which includes:
 a first heat exchanger that is in contact with outside air, and 
 a second heat exchanger that is placed in an air conditioning housing, and 
 
 at least one element for cooling the outside air which includes a composite phase-change material made of at least one first material which is a phase-change material and at least one second material of which the structure forms a support matrix within said phase-change material, wherein said composite phase-change material is covered with a heat-conducting protective layer, and wherein said at least one element for cooling surrounds at least in part said second heat exchanger. 
 
     
     
       2. The air-conditioning device of  claim 1 , wherein said composite phase-change material comprises at least one rigid structural reinforcement. 
     
     
       3. The air-conditioning device of  claim 2 , wherein said rigid structural reinforcement is entirely surrounded by said composite phase-change material. 
     
     
       4. The air-conditioning device of  claim 2 , wherein said rigid structural reinforcement is a metal framework. 
     
     
       5. The air-conditioning device of  claim 2 , wherein said rigid structural reinforcement is a plastic framework. 
     
     
       6. The air-conditioning device of  claim 1 , wherein said composite phase-change material is entirely covered with said heat-conducting protective layer. 
     
     
       7. The air-conditioning device of  claim 1 , wherein said heat-conducting protective layer is a carbon-fiber layer. 
     
     
       8. The air-conditioning device of  claim 1 , wherein said heat-conducting protective layer is an oleophobic and hydrophobic surface treatment having organic/inorganic hybrid nanoparticles. 
     
     
       9. The air-conditioning device of  claim 1 , wherein said heat-conducting protective layer is a metal film having high thermal conductivity. 
     
     
       10. The air-conditioning device of  claim 1 , wherein said heat-conducting protective layer is an evaporative layer of a heat-conducting polymer. 
     
     
       11. The air-conditioning device of  claim 1 , wherein said composite phase-change material has a melting temperature of between 9 and 13 degrees C. 
     
     
       12. The air-conditioning device of  claim 1 , wherein said composite phase-change material has a latent heat of between 100 and 300 KJ/kg. 
     
     
       13. The air-conditioning device of  claim 1 , wherein said air conditioning housing defines a mixing chamber and a plurality of air-distribution ducts. 
     
     
       14. The air-conditioning device of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one element for cooling is disposed in a region of a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle. 
     
     
       15. The air-conditioning device of  claim 2 , wherein said at least one element for cooling forms a diffusion grating at an outlet of an air diffuser in a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle. 
     
     
       16. The air-conditioning device of  claim 2 , wherein said composite phase-change material is entirely covered with said heat-conducting protective layer. 
     
     
       17. The air-conditioning device of  claim 2 , wherein said at least one element for cooling forms flaps for orienting and/or closing off air flow entering a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle. 
     
     
       18. An air-conditioning device for a motor vehicle comprising:
 an air-conditioning loop which includes:
 a first heat exchanger that is in contact with outside air, and 
 a second heat exchanger that is placed in an air conditioning housing; and 
 
 at least one element for cooling the outside air which includes a composite phase-change material made of at least one first material which is a phase-change material and at least one second material of which the structure forms a support matrix within said phase-change material, wherein said composite phase-change material is covered with a heat-conducting protective layer, and wherein said at least one element for cooling forms a diffusion grating at an outlet of an air diffuser in a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle. 
 
     
     
       19. An air-conditioning device for a motor vehicle comprising:
 an air-conditioning loop which includes:
 a first heat exchanger that is in contact with outside air, and 
 a second heat exchanger that is placed in an air conditioning housing: and 
 
 at least one element for cooling the outside air which includes a composite phase-change material made of at least one first material which is a phase-change material and at least one second material of which the structure forms a support matrix within said phase-change material, wherein said composite phase-change material is covered with a heat-conducting protective layer, and wherein said at least one element for cooling surrounds at least in part said second heat exchanger and forms flaps for orienting and/or closing off air flow entering a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle.